Synergistic effect of oxymatrine and angiogenesis inhibitor NM-3 on modulating apoptosis in human gastric cancer cells

AIM: To investigate the synergistic effect of oxymatrine(OM) and angiogenesis inhibitor NM-3 on modulatingapoptosis in human gastric cancer cell lines SGC-7901,MKN-45, MKN-74. METHODS: Human gastric cancer lines SGC-7901,MKN-45, MKN-74 were treated with OM in the absenceand presence of NM-3. The inhibitory rates weredetected by MTT assay. Synergistic effect of OM andNM-3 on the growth of survivin, bcl-2, bax and p53 inSGC-7901 cells were examined by semiquantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting, and their growth inhibitoryeffects were also observed on SGC-7901 tumor xenograftin nude mice.RESULTS: OM combined with NM-3 exhibited asynergistic inhibitory effect on the growth of SGC-7901,MKN-45 and MKN-74 cells in a time-dependent manner.Twenty-four hours after treatment with OM, NM-3 aloneand their combination, mRNA expression of survivin andbcl-2 in SGC-7901 cells decreased, p53 mRNA expressionincreased. OM (4 g/L) combined with NM-3 significantlyincreased the expression of p53 mRNA and decreasedthe expression of survivin and bcl-2 compared witheither agent alone (193% ± 34% vs 129% ± 12%;44% ± 18% vs 92% ± 18%; 36 ± 17% vs 93% ± 23%,P < 0.05). Western blotting showed that the synergisticeffect of OM and NM-3 on protein translation of survivin,bcl-2 and p 53 was in accordance with their mRNAs.Furthermore, OM/NM-3 combination obviously exhibitedantitumor growth effect in xenografted human gastriccancer cells SGC-7901 compared with either agent alone.CONCLUSION: OM combined with NM-3 has synergisticinhibitory effects on human gastric cancer cells in vitro and can suppress the growth of xenografted human gastric cancer cells SGC-7901 in vivo.     

Molecular mechanisms of paclitaxel and NM-3 on human gastric cancer in a severe combined immune deficiency mice orthotopic implantation model

AIM： To explore the molecular mechanisms of action of paclitaxel and NM-3 on human gastric cancer in severe combined immune deficiency （SCID） mice.
METHODS： Human gastric cancer cells SGC-7901 were implanted into SCID mice and mice were treated with paclitaxel and NM-3. The effects of paclitaxel and NM-3 on apoptosis of human gastric cancer cells were analyzed using flow cytometry, TUNEL assays, and DNA fragment analyses.
RESULTS： Apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells was successfully induced by paclitaxel, NM-3, and the combination of paclitaxel and NM-3 24 h after injection as shown by the presence of apoptotic hypodiploid peaks on the flow cytometer before G1-S and a characteristic apoptotic band pattern in the DNA electrophoresis. The apoptotic rate detected by TUNEL assay was found to be significantly higher in the paclitaxel/NM-3 compared to the control group （38.5% ± 5.14% vs 13.2%± 1.75%, P 〈 0.01）.
CONCLUSION： Paclitaxel in combination with NM-3 is able to induce apoptosis of the human gastric cancer cells in SCID mice effectively and synergistically.     

Effect of 2-（8-hydroxy-6-methoxy- 1-oxo- 1H-2-benzopyran-3yl） propionic acid in combination with carboplatin on gastric carcinoma growth in vivo

AIM： To investigate the effects of 2-（8-hydroxy-6- methoxy-l-oxo-lH-2-benzopyran-3-yl） propionic acid （NM-3） alone and in combination with carboplatin on tumor growth and apoptosis in mouse models of human gastric cancer constructed by subcutaneous implantation of histologically intact tumor tissue.
METHODS： Human gastric cancer SGC-7901 tissues were implanted into the dorsal subcutis of nude mice. One week after tumors reached to a volume of 50-100 mm3 for around 1 wk, these mice were randomly divided into 8 groups （n = 10）. NM-3 was injected peritoneally at the dose of 10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg or 40 mg/kg every other day for 5 wk, combined with carboplatin （5 mg/kg） every third day for 4 wk. As controls of combined treatment, another 4 groups of mice were injected with either NM-3 at 10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg or 40 mg/kg, or with carboplatin alone （5 mg/kg）. The control mice received normal saline. Tumor weight, tumor growth inhibition （TGI）, and intratumoral microvessel density （MVD） were evaluated. Apoptosis of human gastric cancer was detected by TUNEL method and flow o/tometry analysis, respectively.
RESULTS： The mean tumor volume （692.40 ± 58.43 mm3, 548.30 ± 66.02 mm3, 382.13 ± 43.52 mm3） after treatment with carboplatin combined NM-3 at the dose of 10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg or 40 mg/kg was lower than that after treatment with either NM-3 at the dose of 10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg or 40 mg/kg or with carboplatin alone. Compared with the normal saline group, NM-3 administered at 10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg or 40 mg/kg significantly reduced the tumor weight in these groups （P 〈 0.05）. Carboplatin used alone at 5 mg/kg showed minimal effects. But NM-3 in combination with carboplatin had greater effects of tumor weight than either NM-3 or carboplatin alone. NM-3 alone at the dose 10 mg/kg or in combination with carboplatin had no obvious effects on body changes. Two mice died of diarrhea in each of the two groups treated with 40 mg/kg NM-3 or with 40 mg/kg NM-3 in combination with carboplatin. A     

Adenovirus-mediated FasL gene transfer into human gastric carcinoma

AIM: To evaluate the possible value of FasL in gastric cancer gene therapy by investigating the effects of FasL expression on human gastric cancer cell line. METHODS: An adenoviral vector encoding the full-length human FasL cDNA was constructed and used to infect a human gastric cancer (SGC-7901) cell line. FasL expression was confirmed by X-gal staining, flow cytometric analysis and RT-PCR. The effect of FasL on cell proliferation was determined by clonogenic assay, cytotoxicity was detected by MTT assay, and cell viability was measured by trypan blue exclusion. The therapeutic efficiency of Ad-FasL in vivo was investigated with a xenograft tumor model in nude mice. RESULTS: SGC-7901 cells infected with Ad-FasL showed increased expression of FasL, resulting in significantly decreased cell growth and colony-forming activity when compared with control adenovirus-infected cells. The cytotoxicity of anti-Fas antibody (CH-11) in gastric cancer cells was stronger than that of ActD (91±8 vs60±5,P<0.01), and the cytotoxicity of Ad-FasL was stronger than that of CH-11 (60±5 vs50±2, P<0.05). In addition, G1-phase arrest (67.75±0.39 vs 58.03±2.16, P<0.05) and apoptosis were observed in Ad-FasL-infected SGC-7901 cells, and the growth of SGC-7901 xenografts in nude mice was retarded after intra-tumoral injection with Ad-FasL (54% vs 0%,P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Infection of human gastric carcinoma cells with Ad-FasL induces apoptosis, indicating that this target gene might be of potential value in gene therapy for gastric cancer.     

Effects of epidermal growth factor on the growth of human gastric cancer cell and the implanted tumor of nude mice

AIM：Epidermal growth factor(EGF)plays an important role in the regulation of gastrointestinal tissue growth and development,and it can stimulate epithelial proliferation,cell differentiation and growth,it has been established that the EGF can promote gastric cytoprotection and ulcer healing but the potential ability of EGF to reaulate the gastric cancer growth is unknown,This study is to investigate the influence of EGF on human gastric cancer cell and the implanted tumor growth of nude mice.METHODS:The cell growth rates of human gastric adenocarinome cell lines MKN-28,MKN-45,SGC-7901 and normal human gastric epithelial cells 3T3 were assessed when incubated with recombinant human EGF(rhEGF,0.05,0.1,0.5,1.0,10,50,100mg.L^-1)using MTT method ,The cells of MKN-28,MKN-45,SGC-7901(gastric cancer tissue 1.5mm^3)were implanted in the BALB/cA nude mice for 10 days,The EGF was given intraperitoneally(15,30,60μg.kg^-1)for 3 weeks.The body weights of the tumor bearing animals and their tumor mass were measured afterwards to assess the mitogenic effect of rhEGF in the nude mice.RESULTS:Within the concentration range of 0.05-100mg.L^-1 rhEGF could increase the cell growth of normal 3T3 cells (cell growth rate 100%vs 102.8%,P&lt;0.05)but partially restrain the gastric cancer cell growth,The latter effect was related to cell differentiation ,In 15-60μg/kg rhEGF groups,the mean implanted tumor mass of MKN-28 cell were 1.75g,1.91g,2.08g/NS group 1.97g(P&gt;0.05),the mean tumor mass of SGC-7901 cell were 1.53g,1.07g,1.20g/NS group 1.07g(P&gt;0.05),and for MKN-45 cell,the tumor mass were respectively 1.92g,1.29g,1.77g/NS group 1.82g(P&gt;0.05) So rhEGF had no obvious effect on implanted MKN-28,SGC-7901 and MKN-45 tumor growth.CONCLUSION:EGF has no stimulating effect on the human gastric cancer cell growth neither in vitro nor in vivo.     

血管生成抑制剂抗胃癌微淋巴管生成的实验研究

目的 通过建立未分化人胃腺癌SGC-7901原位移植裸鼠模型,应用2-(8-羟基-6-甲氧基-1-氧-1-氢-2-苯并吡喃-3-羟基)丙酸(NM-3)和卡铂的腹腔化学治疗,观察其对裸鼠原位移植人胃癌微淋巴管生成的影响.方法 建立人胃癌SGC-7901原位种植BALB/C裸鼠模型28只,随机分为4组,每组7只,分别腹腔内注射0.9%氯化钠溶液、NM-3(10 mg/kg)、卡铂(5 mg/kg)和NM-3+卡铂,2次/周.8周后处死裸鼠,采用定量免疫组化染色检测淋巴管内皮细胞透明质酸受体(LYVE)-1、肾小球足突细胞膜黏蛋白、同源异型盒转录因子(Prox)-1;计数微淋巴管密度(LMVD)值.结果 卡铂组、NM-3组及NM-3+卡铂组LYVE-1表达值均较0.9%氯化钠溶液组下降,但差异无统计学意义(P值均＞0.05);NM-3组及NM-3+卡铂组肾小球足突细胞黏蛋白、Prox-1值较0.9%氯化钠溶液组及卡铂组均显著下降(P＜0.05).NM-3组及NM-3+卡铂组LMVD值分别为4.72±0.50和4.78±0.38,较0.9%氯化钠溶液组及卡铂组均显著下降[7.35±0.55和6.98±0.35,P＜0.05].结论 NM-3能抑制胃癌微淋巴管生成,抑制肿瘤的生长和转移.     

Paeonol inhibits tumor growth in gastric cancer in vitro and in vivo

AIM:To investigate the anti-tumor effects of paeonol in gastric cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis in vitro and in vivo.METHODS:Murine gastric cancer cell line mouse forestomach carcinoma(MFC) or human gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901 was cultured in the presence or absence of paeonol.Cell proliferation was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay,and cell cycle and apoptosis by flow cytometry and TUNEL staining.Tumor growth after subcutaneous implantation of MF...     

Molecular therapy with recombinant antisense c-myc adenovirus for human gastric carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: This study used a recombinant antisense c-myc adenovirus (Ad-ASc-myc) to evaluate how alterations of c-myc expression in the SGC7901 human gastric carcinoma cells could influence the proliferation, apoptosis and the growth of human gastric tumors in nude mice. METHODS: The human gastric carcinoma cell line, SGC7901, treated with Ad-ASc-myc or adenovirus recombinants carrying LacZ gene (Ad-LacZ) were analyzed by using X-gal stain, MTT, DNA ladder, TUNEL assay, flow cytometric analysis, polymerase chain reaction and western blot in vitro. The tumorigenicity and experimental therapy in nude mice models were assessed in vivo. RESULTS: The Ad-ASc-myc could strongly inhibit cell growth and induce apoptosis in SGC7901 cells. The proliferation of the Ad-ASc-myc-infected SGC7901 cells was reduced by 44.1%. The mechanism of killing gastric carcinoma cells by Ad-ASc-myc was found to be apoptosis, which was detected by the use of a DNA ladder, TUNEL and flow cytometric analysis. Infection of Ad-ASc-myc in nude mice showed that all three mice failed to form tumors from the 7 to 30 day period, compared with injection of Ad-LacZ and parent SGC7901 cells. Experimental therapy on the nude mice bearing subcutaneous tumors of SGC7901 cells showed that intratumor instillation of Ad-ASc-myc inhibited the growth of the tumors. Recombinant antisense c-myc adenovirus-treated tumors were inhibited by 68.9%, compared with tumors injected with Ad-LacZ and control (LacZ and phosphate-buffered saline). CONCLUSION: The expression of Ad-ASc-myc can inhibit growth and induce apoptosis of gastric cancer cells in vitro and in vivo and thus is a potential clinical utility in gene therapy for the treatment of gastric carcinoma.     

TNF-α联合阿霉素对人胃癌细胞株SGC-7901的作用及其机制研究

背景:肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)是抗肿瘤活性很强的细胞因子,但较多的全身毒副作用限制了其应用。目前发现小剂量TNF-α联合化疗药物可提高化疗效果。目的:探讨TNF-α联合阿霉素(ADM)对人胃癌细胞株SGC-7901的治疗作用及其机制。方法:体外常规培养人胃癌细胞株SGC-7901,并分为ADM组(64、16、4、1、0.25μg/mL)、TNF-α组(16 000、4000、1000、250、62.5 IU/mL)、联合组(ADM 5μg/mL+TNF-α4000 IU/mL)、阴性对照组和空白对照组。以MTT法观察细胞生长,流式细胞术检测细胞周期和凋亡,蛋白质印迹法检测caspase-8蛋白表达。构建裸鼠胃癌移植瘤模型,分为阴性对照组、ADM组(2 mg/kg)和联合组(ADM 2 mg/kg+TNF-α5×104IU/kg),观察肿瘤生长情况。结果:与ADM组相比,联合组SGC-7901细胞存活率明显降低,S期和G2期细胞比例、细胞凋亡率、caspase-8蛋白表达均明显升高;体内实验亦显示联合组对裸鼠移植瘤的抑瘤率明显高于ADM组。结论:TNF-α与ADM联合应用可增加化疗药物对胃癌细胞的杀伤作用,其机制部分与促进细胞凋亡和改变细胞周期有关。     

Effect of NHE1 antisense gene transfection on the biological behavior of SGC-7901 human gastric carcinoma cells

AIM： To study the effect of type 1 Na^＋/H^＋ exchanger （NHE1 ） antisense human gene transfection on the biological behavior of gastric carcinoma cell line SGC-7901. METHODS： Antisense NHE1 eukaryotic expression on vector pcDNA3.1 was constructed by recombinant DNA technique and transfected into gastric carcinoma cell line SGC-7901 with DOTAP liposome transfection method. Morphological changes of cells were observed with optic and electron microscopes. Changes in cell proliferative capacity, apoptosis, intracellular pH （pHi）, cell cycle, clone formation in two-layer soft agar, and tumorigenicity in nude mice were examined. RESULTS： Antisense eukaryotic expressing vectors were successfully constructed and transfected into SGC-7901. The transfectant obtained named 7901 -antisense （7901-AS） stablely produced antisense NHE1. There was a significant difference between the pHi of 7901-AS cells （6.77 ± 0.05） and that of 7901-zeo cells and SGC-7901 cells （7.24 ± 0.03 and 7.26 ± 0.03, P 〈 0.01）. Compared with SGC-7901 and 7901-zeo cells, 7901-AS cells mostly showed cell proliferation inhibition, G1/G0 phase arrest, increased cell apoptotic rate, recovery of contact inhibition, and density contact. The tumorigenicity in nude mice and cloning efficiency in the two-layer soft agar were clearly inhibited. CONCLUSION： NHE1 antisense gene significantly restrains the malignant behavior of human gastric carcinoma cells, suppresses cell growth and induces cell apoptosis, and partially reverses the malignant phenotypes of SGC-7901 . These results suggest a potential role for human tumor gene therapy.     

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its role in oncogenesis of human gastric carcinoma

AIM: To establish the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the oncogenesis of human gastric carcinoma more directly. METHODS: The expression of VEGF and its receptor kinase-domain insert containing receptor (KDR) in human gastric cancer tissue were observed by immunohistochemical staining. VEGF levels were manipulated in human gastric cancer cell using eukaryotic expression constructs designed to express the complete VEGF(165) complimentary DNA in either the sense or antisense orientation. The biological changes of the cells were observed in which VEGF was up-regulated or down-regulated. RESULTS: VEGF-positive rate was 50%, and VEGF was mainly localized in the cytoplasm and membrane of the tumor cells, while KDR was mainly located in the membrane of vascular endothelial cells in gastric cancer tissues and peri-cancerous tissue. In 2 cases of 50 specimens, the gastric cancer cells expressed KDR, localized in both the cytoplasm and membrane. Introduction of VEGF(165) antisense into human gastric cancer cells (SGC-7901, immunofluorescence intensity, 31.6%)) resulted in a significant reduction in VEGF-specific messenger RNA and total and cell surface VEGF protein (immunofluorescence intensity, 8.9%) (P<0.05). Conversely, stable integration of VEGF(165) in the sense orientation resulted in an increase in cellular and cell surface VEGF (immunofluorescence intensity, 75.4%) (P<0.05). Lowered VEGF levels were associated with a marked decrease in the growth of nude mouse xenografted tumor (at 33 days postimplantation, tumor volume: 345.40 +/- 136.31 mm3)(P<0.05 vs control SGC-7901 group: 1534.40 +/- 362.88 mm3), whereas up-regulation of VEGF resulted in increased xenografted tumor size (at 33 days postimplantation, tumor volume: 2350.50 +/- 637.70 mm3) (P<0.05 vs control SGC-7901 group). CONCLUSION: This study provides direct evidence that VEGF plays an important role in the oncogenesis of human gastric cancer.     

Anti-gastric cancer active immunity induced by FasL／B7-1 gene-modified tumor cells

AIM:To study the activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) against gastric cancer cells induced by FasL/B7-1 (FB-11) gene-modified tumor cells,and to explore whether co-expression of FasL and B7-1 in SGC-7901 tumor cells could initiate synergistic antitumor effect. METHODS: FasL and B7-1 genes were transfected into human SGC-7901 gastric cancer cells with adenovirus vectors. The positive clones were selected by G418. FasL and B7-1 genes were detected by flow cytometry and RT-PCR. Abdominal infiltrating lymphocytes and sensitized spleen cells were obtained from mice that were immunized with SGC-7901/FB-11 or wild type SGC-7901 cells intraperitoneally,and cytotoxicity of these CTLs against tumor cells was determined by MTT assay. RESULTS: Flow cytometry and RT-PCR showed that FasL and B7-1 genes were highly expressed. FasL and B7-1 transfected cancer cells had a high apoptosis index. DNA laddering suggested that FasL and B7-1 genes induced gastric cancer cell apoptosis. FasL+/B7-1+SGC-7901 cells (SGC-7901/FB-11) were inoculated subcutaneously in the dorsal skin of C57BL/6 mice and then decreased their tumorigenicity greatly (z=2.15-46.10, P<0.01).SGC-7901/FB-11 cell-sensitized mice obtained protective immune activity against the rechallenge of wild type SGC-7901 cells (z=2.06-44.30, P<0.05). The cytotoxicity of CTLs induced by SGC-7901/FB-11 cells against SGC-7901 was significantly higher than that of CTLs activated by wild-type SGC-7901 cells (84.1±2.4% vs30.5±2.3%, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: FasL and B7-1 genes can effectively promote the activity of CTLs against gastric cancer cells. FasL/B7-1 molecules play an important role in CTL cytotoxicity.     

β-榄香烯对胃癌及胃癌耐药细胞杀伤作用的实验研究

目的 研究β-榄香烯联合或不联合化学治疗药物5-氟尿嘧啶(5-FU)对人胃癌细胞株SGC-7901和相应耐药细胞株SGC-7901/5-FU的杀伤作用及机制.方法 用不同剂量β-榄香烯(20、40或80μg/ml)联合或不联合5-FU (100 μg/ml)作用于SGC-7901和SGC-7901/5-FU细胞,采用四甲基偶氮唑盐实验、透射电镜观察、流式细胞仪和DNA原位末端标记(TUNEL)法检测药物对细胞的杀伤作用及其诱导细胞凋亡的情况.通过建立SGC-7901和SGC-7901/5-FU细胞裸鼠移植瘤模型观察β-榄香烯对这两种细胞的体内杀伤作用.结果 β-榄香烯在体内、外均具有抑制SCA3-7901和SGC-7901/5-FU细胞生长的作用(P值均<0.05),一定剂量范围内具量效关系(P=0.02).透射电镜、流式细胞仪和TUNEL实验均显示β-榄香烯抑制两种胃癌细胞生长的作用与其诱导细胞凋亡有关.结论 β-榄香烯在体内外对SGC-7901和SGC-7901/5-FU细胞均具杀伤作用,该作用可能与其诱导细胞凋亡有关.     

Tributyrin inhibits human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cell growth by inducing apoptosis and DNA synthesis arrest

AIM: To evaluate the effects of tributyrin, a pro-drug of natural butyrate and a neutral short-chain fatty acid triglyceride, on the growth inhibition of human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cell.METHODS: Human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells were 24-72 h. MTT assay was applied to detect the cell proliferation.[3H]-TdR uptake was measured to determine DNA synthesis.Apoptotic morphology was observed by electron microscopy and Hoechst-33258 staining. Flow cytometry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay were performed to detect tributyrin-triggered apoptosis. The expressions of PARP, Bcl-2 and Bax were examined by Western blot assay.RESULTS: Tributyrin could initiate growth inhibition of SGC7901 cell in a dose- and time-dependent manner. [3H]-TdR uptake by SGC-7901 cells was reduced to 33.6% after 48 h control (P＜0.05). Apoptotic morphology was detected by TUNEL assay. Flow cytometry revealed that tributyrin could induce apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells in dose-dependent manner. After 48 hours incubation with tributyrin at 2 mmol.L-1, the level of Bcl-2 protein was lowered, and the level of Bax protein was increased in SGC-7901, accompanied by PARP cleavage.CONCLUSION: Tributyrin could inhibit the growth of gastric cancer cells effectively in vitro by inhibiting DNA synthesis and inducing apoptosis, which was associated with the downregulated Bcl-2 expression and the up-regulated Bax expression. Therefore, tributyrin might be a promising chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agent against human gastric carcinogenesis.     

Tributyrin inhibits human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cell growth by inducing apoptosis and DNA synthesis arrest

AIM: To evaluate the effects of tributyrin, a pro-drug of natural butyrate and a neutral short-chain fatty acid triglyceride, on the growth inhibition of human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cell. METHODS: Human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells were exposed to tributyrin at 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10 and 50 mmol/L(-1) for 24-72 h. MTT assay was applied to detect the cell proliferation. [(3)H]-TdR uptake was measured to determine DNA synthesis. Apoptotic morphology was observed by electron microscopy and Hoechst-33258 staining. Flow cytometry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay were performed to detect tributyrin-triggered apoptosis. The expressions of PARP, Bcl-2 and Bax were examined by Western blot assay. RESULTS: Tributyrin could initiate growth inhibition of SGC-7901 cell in a dose- and time-dependent manner. [(3)H]-TdR uptake by SGC-7901 cells was reduced to 33.6 % after 48 h treatment with 2 mmol/L(-1) tributyrin, compared with the control (P<0.05). Apoptotic morphology was detected by TUNEL assay. Flow cytometry revealed that tributyrin could induce apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells in dose-dependent manner. After 48 hours incubation with tributyrin at 2 mmol/L(-1), the level of Bcl-2 protein was lowered, and the level of Bax protein was increased in SGC-7901, accompanied by PARP cleavage. CONCLUSION: Tributyrin could inhibit the growth of gastric cancer cells effectively in vitro by inhibiting DNA synthesis and inducing apoptosis, which was associated with the down-regulated Bcl-2 expression and the up-regulated Bax expression. Therefore, tributyrin might be a promising chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agent against human gastric carcinogenesis.     

Effects of Wei Chang An on expression of multiple genes in human gastric cancer grafted onto nude mice

AIM： To investigate the expression of multiple genes in Chinese jianpi herbal recipe Wei Chang An （WCA） in human gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901.
METHODS： A human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line SGC-7902 grafted onto nude mice was used as the animal model. The mice were randomly divided into 3 groups, one control and the two representing experimental conditions. Animals in the two experimental groups received either WCA over a 34-d period or 5-fluorouracil （5-FU） over 6-d period starting at 8th d after grafting. Control animals received saline on an identical schedule. Animals were killed 41 d after being grafted. The expression profiles in paired WCA treated gastric cancer samples and the N.S. control samples were studied by using a cDNA array representing 14181 cDNA clusters. The alterations in gene expression levels were confirmed by Real-time Quantitative polymerase chain reaction （qPCR）.
RESULTS： When compared with controls, the average tumor inhibitory rate in WCA group was 44.32% ± 5.67% and 5-FU 47.04% ± 22.33% （P 〈 0.01, respectively）. The average labeling index （LI） for PCNA in WCA group and 5-FU group was significantly decreased compared with the control group. Apoptotic index （AI） was significantly increased to 9.72% ± 4.52% using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate fluorescence nick end labeling （TUNEL） method in WCA group compared with the controls 2.45% ± 2.37%. 5-FU group was also found to have a significantly increased AI compared with the controls. The expression of cleaved Caspase-3 in WCA group and 5-FU group was significantly increased compared with the control group respectively. There were 45 different expressed sequence tags （ESTs） among the control sample pool and WCA sample pool. There were 24 ESTs up-regulated in WCA samples and 21 ESTs down-regulated. By using qPCR, the expression level of Stat3, rap2 interacting protein x （RIPX）, regulator of differentiation 1 （ROD1） and Bcl-2 was lower     

Paclitaxel induces apoptosis in human gastric carcinoma cells

AIM: To investigate the apoptosis in gastric cancer cells induced by paclitaxel, and the relation between this apoptosis and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax. METHODS: In in vitro experiments, MTT assay was used to determine the cell growth inhibitory rate. Transmission electron microscope and TUNEL staining method were used to quantitatively and qualitively detect the apoptosis status of gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901 before and after the paclitaxel treatment. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of apoptosis-regulated gene Bcl-2 and Bax. RESULTS: Paclitaxel inhibited the growth of gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901 in a dose-and time-dependent manner. Paclitaxel induced SGC-7901 cells to undergo apoptosis with typically apoptotic characteristics, including morphological changes of chromatin condensation, chromatin crescent formation, nucleus fragmentation and apoptotic body formation. Paclitaxel could reduce the expression of apoptosis-regulated gene Bcl-2, and improve the expression of apoptosis-regulated gene Bax. CONCLUSION: Paclitaxel is able to induce the apoptosis in gastric cancer. This apoptosis may be mediated by down-expression of apoptosis-regulated gene Bcl-2 and up-expression of apoptosis-regulated gene Bax.     

Gastric cancer cell lines induced by trichostatin A

AIM： To explore the effect of trichostatin A （TSA） on apoptosis and acetylated histone H3 levels in gastric cancer cell lines BGC-823 and SGC-7901. METHODS： The effect of TSA on growth inhibition and apoptosis was examined by MTT, fluorescence microscopy and PI single-labeled flow cytometry. The acetylated histone H3 level was detected by Western blot. RESULTS： TSA induced apoptosis in gastric cancer cell lines BGC-823 and SGC-7901 was in a dose and time-dependent manner. Apoptotic cells varied significantly between TSA treated groups （37.5 ng/mL 72 h for BGC-823 cell line and 75 ng/mL 72 h for SGC-7901 cell line） and control group （0.85 ± 0.14 vs 1.14 ± 0.07, P = 0.02; 0.94 ± 0.07 vs 1.15 ± 0.06, P = 0.02）. Morphologic changes of apoptosis, including nuclear chromatin condensation and fluorescence strength, were observed under fluorescence microscopy. TSA treatment in BGC-823 and SGC-7901 cell lines obviously induced cell apoptosis, which was demonstrated by the increased percentage of sub-G1 phase cells, the reduction of Gl-phase cells and the increase of apoptosis rates in flow cytometric analysis. The result of Western blot showed that the expression of acetylated histone H3 increased in BGC-823 and SGC-7901 TSA treatment groups as compared with the control group.CONCLUSION： TSA can induce cell apoptosis in BGC-823 and SGC-7901 cell lines. The expression of acetylated histone H3 might be correlated with apoptosis.     

Effect of arsenic trioxide on vascular endothelial cell proliferation and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors Flt-1 and KDR in gastric cancer in nude mice

AIM: To investigate the effect of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) on expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR-1, Flt-1) and VEGFR-2 (KDR) in human gastric tumor cells and proliferation of vascular endothelial cells. METHODS: The solid tumor model was formed in nude mice with the gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901. The animals were treated with As2O3. Microvessel density (MVD) and expression of Flt-1 and KDR were detected by immunofluorescence laser confocal microscopy. SGC-7901 cells were treated respectively by exogenous recombinant human VEGF165 or VEGF165 As2O3. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Cell viability of ECV304 cells was measured by MTT assay, and cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed using ? ow cytometry. RESULTS: The tumor growth inhibition was 30.33% and 50.85%, respectively, in mice treated with As2O3 2.5 and 5 mg/kg. MVD was signifi cantly lower in arsenic-treated mice than in the control group. The ? uorescence intensity levels of Flt-1 and KDR were significantly less in the arsenic-treated mice than in the control group. VEGF165 may accelerate growth of SGC7901 cells, but As2O3 may disturb the stimulating effect of VEGF165. ECV304 cell growth was suppressed by 76.51%, 71.09% and 61.49% after 48 h treatment with As2O3 at 0.5, 2.5 and 5 μmol/L, respectively. Early apoptosis in the As2O3- treated mice was 2.88-5.1 times higher than that in the controls, and late apoptosis was 1.17-1.67 times higherthan that in the controls. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that As2O3 delays tumor growth, inhibits MVD, down-regulates Flt-1 and KDR expression, and disturbs the stimulating effect of VEGF165 on the growth of SGC7901 cells. These results suggest that As2O3 might delay growth of gastric tumors through inhibiting the paracrine and autocrine pathways of VEGF/VEGFRs.